Product Marketing Manager

Solugrowth (Pty) Ltd.; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 60 000 - 90 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive company in Gauteng is seeking a Product Marketing Manager responsible for SUV and LCV product marketing. This role entails developing product strategies, managing marketing launches, and coordinating research efforts. The ideal candidate has strong analytical and project management skills, with a background in automotive marketing. The position offers a dynamic work environment where collaboration and strategic insights are key to success.

Qualifications

• Experience in product marketing for automotive or similar industries.
• Strong analytical skills for market and product analysis.
• Proficient in project and product management.

Responsibilities

• Develop product strategy and manage a portfolio of vehicle products.
• Conduct market analysis and monitor product lifecycle.
• Coordinate marketing strategies for new product introductions.

Skills

Product Planning Management

Market Research

Analytics

Project Management

Communication Skills

Job description

Job Title

Product Marketing Manager

Purpose of the Role

The incumbent will be responsible for SUV and LCV Product Marketing for a Global Automotive Brand reporting into the Head of the Product Department.

Key Focus Areas

• Product Planning Management
• New Model Launch Planning, Project Management and Introduction
• Research
• Analytics
• Product Training
• Product Development
• Marketing Management

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Product Strategy
  • Determine volume targets in line with business objectives.
  • Map market and segment volume projections in line with industry and economic projections.
  • Develop detailed product strategy for each product to achieve business objectives.
  • Conduct detailed market study, analysis and volume projections.
  • Addressable segment and variant analysis to achieve volume and share objectives.
  • Price‑volume mapping analysis for volume and share targeting.
  • Competitor price‐spider comparison and analysis to determine price targeting.
  • Variant‑wise spec mapping analysis vs competition for right speccing USPs.
• Product Management
  • Manage a portfolio of products, including SUV, LCV and commercial vehicles.
  • Periodic review and monitoring with corrective alignments to achieve business objectives.
  • Life‑cycle action management for each product.
  • Create and manage a project charter with local and global teams.
  • Effectively map all products vs competitors using product spec price‑value analysis.
  • Monthly product price positioning to achieve market share and volume.
  • Manage product variant spec and control with local and global teams.
  • Map key technical and warranty issues for suitable product corrections.
  • Create control product specification sheets and buy‑off of all new changes prior to dispatch or retail support.
  • Support planning and administration of vehicle evaluation and durability testing.
• Research Management
  • Develop effective research briefs to achieve the desired outcomes.
  • Insight collaborations with product, market, customer, dealer and competitor research plan.
  • New product clinic to understand customer product acceptance and price setting.
  • Coordinate focus groups with dealers and customers.
  • Rental and fleet customer visits to understand needs for product correction.
  • Conduct dealer visits to understand customer needs and spec correction.
• Marketing Management
  • Develop the marketing strategy for each new product introduction.
  • Product equation analysis vs competition to determine product right‑to‑wins (RTW).
  • Leverage optimal product USPs and RTWs in launch strategy.
  • Competitor product position mapping, USPs, messaging communication summary analysis.
  • Collaborate with marketing on customer insights and target customer profile.
  • Develop product positioning with functional, technical and emotional needs.
  • Coordinate the marketing launch plan with all internal stakeholders.
  • Consolidate the launch marketing plan for new introductions for business approval.
• Product Development
  • Plan suitable local variants based on local market demand and customer need gap.
  • Share scope for suitable local parts development with product, supplier and after‑sales.
  • Support accessory development with correct scope to meet customer needs.
  • Evaluate proposed new part vehicle concepts and proposals.
  • Ensure local parts are approved by product, engineering, technical and homologation.
  • Support technical information flow for homologation approval.
• Project Management
  • Launch planning coordination and project management for seamless introduction.
  • Manage new model project timeline with global team for time‑ous introduction.
  • Administration, tracking and recording of minutes and action items.
  • Create product briefs for internal stakeholders.
  • Effective project tracking, monitoring and risk management.
  • Risk mitigation and coordination to ensure smooth launch.
• Presentation and Communication
  • Prepare and deliver effective product presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Support new product sales training content for dealer manpower capability building.
  • Support marketing with go‑to‑market planning, product spec understanding.
  • Support sales team with market analysis and product spec understanding.
  • Prepare and present product launch presentation.
  • Effectively communicate project status to all stakeholders and to business.
  • Effectively communicate product briefs and communications to all required stakeholders.